Apparatus for making laminated sheet-metal stock.



B. DARRACH, la.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING LAMINATED SHEET METAL STOCK.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.21. 1915.

` 1 1 99,5 30. Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

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B. DARRACH, in.

APPAHAUS FR MAKING LAMINTED SHEET METAL'STOCK.

APPucATloN FILED ocT.21. |915.

1 1 9 9,5 30. Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

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APPLICATION FILED OCT.27| |915.

l l 9 9,5 30 Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

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BRADFORD DARRACH, JR., 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO LAMINATED l-SHIM COMPANY, OF NE/V YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING LAMINATED SHEET-MTAL STOCK.

Application led October 27, 1915.

To all fw hom if may concern Be it known that I, BRADFORD DARRACH, J r.,a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the county ofUnion and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Making Laminated Sheet-Metal Stock, ofwhich the following is a speciiication.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for making the laminatedsheet metal stock from which shims, washers and analogous spacingdevices are adapted to be cut or stamped by suitable dies or otherwise,the device being an improvement in the art over the apparatus shown inthe Lindhe Patent, No. 1,096,512.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide an apparatus of thischaracter which will produce a very uniform stock from which shims andthe like may be manufactured, and which is practically automatic in itsoperation, requiring but a small amount of attention from the operator.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fullyappear as the Vdescription proceeds, the novel features thereof beingpointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is atop plan view of a machine for making laminated sheet metal stockconstructed in accordance with the invention, portions being broken awayand shown in sectionl Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, thefinishing table and one end of the conveyer chain being broken away.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the finishing table and the portion of theconveyer chain over the same, the adjacent end of the press alsoshowing. Fig. 4. is atransverse sectional view through the machine onthe line 1 4 of Fig. 1, the doors of the heating chamber being shown inan open position. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a portion ofthe track and one end of a carrier, a pile of the thin sheets beingshown in position upon the carrier. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of thetiming mechanism by means of which the length of time the sheets aretreated within the heating chamber is definitely Specification ofLetters Patent.

.Patented Sept. 26, 1916.V

Serial No. 58,119.

regulated. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuits bymeans of which the passage of the carrier through the heating chamber isautomatically controlled.y

Fig. S is a similar view of the circuits for automatically operating thepress as the carrier moves through the same. Fig. 9 is a plan view of aheating chamber and press, showing a slight modification in which theheating chamber is of suiiicient capacity to receive two carriers,thereby rendering the operation of the device practically continuous,since about twice the length of time is required in the heating chamberthat is required in the press.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same jreference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, thereference nu meral 1 designates an overhead track which passes over apreparing table 2, through a heating chamber or furnace A and through ahydraulic press B, being secured at one end thereof to the lower face ofthe top 3 of thesaid press, while the opposite end thereof is shown assupported from the ceiling s by a suitable hanger or bracket 5. Thistrack 1 is formed with laterally projecting side flanges 1a which extendlongitudinally of the track for the full length thereof, and the lowerface 1b of the track presents a continuous flat surface. One or morecarriers C may be provided to travel upon the track 1 and carry thepiles of thin metal sheets through the heating chamber and press. Thecarrier C is formed with a bottom or supporting plate 6 having upwardlyprojecting side frames 7 at the longitudinal edges thereof, said sideframes being provided at their upper edges with inwardly projectingrollers 8 adapted to travel upon the side flanges 1au of the track 1. Itwill be observed that the side flanges 1a are arranged below the top ofthe track so as to provide a clearance space above the flanges toaccommodate the movements of the rollers 8 when the carriage is movedupwardly within the press to subject the pile D of thin metal sheets topressure. It will also be observed that the forward end of each of thecarriers C is provided at the top thereof with a pair of laterally andupwardly projecting hook members 9 which are adapted to engage the linksof the conveyer chains 10.

The material to be treated is thin sheets of metal, previously coatedwith lead or a suitable solder alloy, said sheets being exceedinglythin, usually two thousandths of an inch or less in thickness. Thedesired number of solder coated sheets are placed in a pile D andinterposed between a pair of thick protecting plates 11. The pile D ofthin sheets and the protecting plates 11 are then placed upon thecarrier C, which 1s upon the preparing table 2 at this stage of theoperation. The carrier C mayl now be properly positioned upon the feedend of the track 1 and moved forward to bring the hook members 9 at theforward end thereof into engagement with the conveyer chains 10. Thereare two of these endless chains 10, said chains passing around suitablesprocket wheels 12 upon shafts 13 which are journaled within suitablebearings provided upon hangers 14 projecting downwardly from theceiling. One of these shafts 13 is connected in some suitable manner asby means of the belt 15 to a driving motor 16.

The carrier C is mounted to travel into the heating chamber A where thepile D of thin sheets is subjected to a certain predeterminedtemperature for a definite predetermined time, after which the carrieris automatically advanced into the press B and the pile D of thinsheets, while still in a heated condition, subjected to a certainpressure for a definite predetermined length of time. The temperatureand time of heating, as well as the time of pressing is automaticallycontrolled, so that an exceptionally uniform product is obtained, andonly a` minimum amount of attention is required from the operator.lVhen. the carrier emerges from the press B, it leaves the track 1 andis drawn over the finishing table E. Suitable guide rollers 17 cause theconveyer chains 10 to be deflected upwardly at the far end of thefinishing table E, and as the chains are thus deflected upwardly theybecome automatically disengaged from the hook members 9 of the carrierso as to release the carrier and leave it upon the finishing table E.The finished laminated sheet metal stock may then be removed from thecarrier and the carrier itself taken back to the preparing` table 2 atthe opposite end of the machine, where a fresh charge of thin metalsheets may be placed upon the same preparatory to its next passagethrough the machine.

The heating chamber A may be a gas furnace of the conventionalconstruction, and an automatic temperature regulator 18 is used inconnection therewith, said temperature regulator being of anyconventional construction and enabling a definite predeterminedtemperature to be maintained within the heating chamber. The ends of theheating chamber or gas furnace are adapted to be closed by verticallymovable doors 19 which travel within guideways 20 Aand are lowered inorder to open the same.

A door controlling motor 21 is shown as arranged under the gas furnaceA, the shaft 21 of the mot-or extending longitudinally of the furnaceand being extended to the ends thereof. rlhe extremities of the motorshaft are shown as provided with pulleys 22 engaging cables 23 whichpass upwardlyV vided for moving the carrier@ into the gas furnace A,retaining it within the gas fur nace while the latter is at a certainfixed temperature for a definite predetermined length of time, and thenautomatically moving the carrier out of the furnace. Each pile or oatchof the sheet metal stock is thus heated in exactly the same manner so asto obtain a uniform product, and the machine can be regulated so thatthe stock will be heated to exactly the proper temperature and forexactly the proper period necessary to soften the solder without burningeither it or the sheets themselves. In practice, it has been found thata period of about four minutes is sufficient time to heat the sheetmetal stock, where stock of the more usual sizes is employed.

Assuming that the carrier C with a pile D of properly assembled thinmetal sheets is in position on the preparing table 2, the operatorcloses a switch 25 and thereby energizes the door opening motor 21 andthe driving motor 16, current being received through suitable conductorsfrom a source of supply 26. Both of the doors 19 of the gas furnace arethus opened and the carrier C moved into the furnace by the conveyerchains 10. Vhen the carrier C is properly positioned within the furnaceA, the forward end thereof engages a switch 27 and moves the same so asto reverse the polarity of the door operating motor 14 and close bothdoors of the gas furnace. This switch 27 is suitably connected, as bymeans of a cable 28 to the switch 25 so that the latter is opened andthe driving motor 16 stopped at the same time that the motor 21 is setin motion to close the furnace doors. A switch 29 is arrangedl in thepath of one of the furnace doors 19 so as to be engaged thereby when itreaches a closed position, said switch serving to break the circuitofthe door operating motor 2l and to stop the motor when the doors arecompletely closed.

The indicating hand or pointer 18a of the temperature regulating device1S (see Fig. 7 is adapted to engage a switch lever 30 when the propertemperature has been produced within the furnace. This switch lever isthereby moved into engagement with a contact 3l so as to close a circuit32 including a source of electrical supply 33 and the timing device orclock m-echanism 34. A spring 35 normally holds the switch lever 30 ininoperative position, although as soon as the proper temperature isreached within the furnace, the indicating hand 18au swings the leverinto engagement with the contact point 3l so as to close the circuit.This results in starting the timing device 34 so that the hand orpointer 36 is revolved over the face thereof. This timing' device 34 isof the well-known and conventional construction, and the manner ofarranging the contact plugs on the face/thereof is showndiagrammatically by Fig. 6. Plugs 37 are adapted to be fitted removablyinto any selected ones of a. peripheral row of sockets 38, said socketsbeing connected by conductors 39 to one of the terminals of a circuit40, while the pointer 36 is connected to the opposite terminal of thecircuit, said circuit including the source of electrical supply 26 andthe door operating motor 21. One of the plugs 37 can be inserted withina suitable socket 3S so that after the proper temperature has beenmaintained within th-e furnace for the predetermined length of time, thepointer or hand 36 will contact with the plug 37 and thereby close thecircuit 40, with the result that the furnace doors 19 are lowered intoan open position.

As soon as the doors 19 are completely opened, one of the doors willengage the switch 25 and operate th-e same to close the circuit of thedriving motor 16, thereby causing the carrier C to move from the furnaceA into Vthe hydraulic press B. `When the carrier is properly positionedwithin the hydraulic press it will engage a switch 4l and move the sameinto engagement with a contact point 42, thereby closing the circuitthrough an electric motor 43 which has an operative connection with thevalves of the hydraulic press B so as to set the press in operation andcause the bed 3fL thereof to be forced upwardly toward the top 3. Theswitch 41 is connected by a wire 44 to a contact 45 which is normallyengaged by the swinging pointer 46 of a time controlling mechanism 47,said pointer being connected by a wire 48 to oneof the terminals of asuitable source of electric supply A wire 50 connects the oppositeterminal of the said source of electric supply to one of the terminals51 of the motor 43, while the complemental terminal 52 of the motor isconnected by a wire 53 to the before mentioned contact point 42. Abranch wire 50L connects the wire 50 to one of the reversing terminals54 of the motor 43, the opposite reversing terminal 55 being connectedby a wire 56 to a series of sockets 57 arranged upon the periphery ofthe clockwork timing device 47. A plug 58 may be fitted in any selectedone of the sockets 57, and when the hand 46 of the timing mechanismmoves away from the contact 45 and engages the plug 58, it will beobvious that the currentA through the motor 43 will be reversed, therebychanging the polarity of the motor and operating the same to close thevalves of the hydraulic press and throw the hydraulic press out ofoperation. The timing device 47 may be of any well-known andconventional construction, being arranged to be automatically set intooperation when the switch 41 is closed, and the hand or pointer 46returning automatically to its original position when the press isthrown out of operation. A spring 4l normally holds the switch 4l in anopen position and causes the switch to automatically open as soon as thecarrier is moved away from the Stllle. The thin sheets of metal areheated within the furnace and the solder reduced to a Huid form withinthe furnace so that when the pile of sheet metal is subjected topressure within the hydraulic press, any surplus solder is squeezed outand all air is expelled, with the result that a very uniform product isobtained. The provision of automatic mechanism for definitely regulatingthe temperature and the exact length of time the stock shall remainwithin the heating chamber eliminate the necessity for any guess work onthe part of the operator, and

venable the device to be successfully operated by an unskilled workmanand with but little attention. The possibility of accidentally raisingthe temperature to such an extent to burn the solder and thin metalplates is also eliminated.

A slight modification is shown by Fig. 9, in which the furnace A isshown as formed with two chambers so that two piles or batches of sheetmetal plates can be heated at the same time. The hydraulic press B isalso sufhciently wide to admit of the carrier from either one of thechambers of the fure nace A being moved into the same. Such anarrangement may result in a great saving of time, since the timerequired for squeezing the sheet metal plates in the hydraulic press isonly about half the time required for properly heating them within thefurnace. It will thus be obvious that such an arrangement provides forpractically a continuous operation of all parts of the machine andenables the press to be utilized continuously Whereas it would otherwisebe idle for substantially one-half of the time.

Having thus described the invention, what l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

l. An apparatus of the charac-ter described, including a heatingfurnace, means for conveying the material to be treated into the heatingfurnace, and automatically7 controlled means for maintaining thematerial in the heating chamber a predetermined length of time under adeiinite predetermined temperature.

2. An apparatus of the character described, including a heating chamber,pressing means, means for conveying the material to be treated to theheating chamber and pressing means, automatically controlled inea-ns formaintaining the material lin the heating chamber a predetermined lengthof time under a denite predetermined temperature, and automaticallycontrolled means for governing the action of the pressing means upon thematerial.

An apparatus of the character described, ,including a heating chamber,pressing means, a carrier for conveying the stock to be treated to theheating chamber and press, and automatically controlled means for movingthe carrier from the heating chamber to the press and timing the actionof the heating chamber and press upon the stock placed upon the carrier.

4. An apparatus of the character described, including a heating chamber,a press, a carrier adapted to receive the stock to be treated forconveying it to the heating chamber and press, automatically controlledmeans for moving the carrier and stopping it consecutively at the properpositions within the heating chamber and press, and means forautomatically timing the action of the heating chamber and press uponthe stock placed on the carrier.

5. An apparatus of the character described, including a heating chamber,a press, a carrier adapted to receive the stock to be treated and conveyit to the furnace and press, automatically controlled means for movingthe carrier through the heating chamber and press and consecutivelystopping it at the proper position Within the heating chamber and press,automatic means for maintaining the carrier Within the heating chamberfor a predetermined length of time under a definite predeterminedtemperature, and automatically. controlled means for maintaining thecarrier in the press for a predetermined length of time.

6. An apparatus of thev character described, including aI heatingchamber, a press, a track extending through the heating chamber andpress, a carrier movable upon the track and adapted to receive the stockto be treated, automatically controlled means for moving the carrierthrough the heating` the heating chamber a predetermined length of timeunder a definite predetermined temperature, and automatically controlledmeans for retaining the carrier in the pressv for a predetermined lengthof time.

7. An .apparatus of the character described, including a heatingchamber, a press, a track extending through the heating chamber andpress, a carrier adapted to receive the stock to be treated and movablymounted upon the track, means for moving the carrier through the heatingchamber and press consecutively and stopping rthe same atproperpositions Within the heating chamber and press, doors for the heatingchamber, a motor controlling the doors, automatically controlled meansfor operating the motor to close the doors when the carrier is inposition within the heating chamber and subsequently opening the doorsafter the carrier has remained in the heating chamber a predeterminedlength of time, and means for automatically regulat-v ing the action ofthe press on the carrier.

8. An apparatus of the character described, including a heating chamber,`a press, a track extending through the heating chamber and press, acarrier movable upon the track and adapted to receive the stock to betreated, means for moving the carrier along the track and consecutivelystopping it at proper positions Within the heating chamber and press,doors for the heating chamber, means actuated by the carrier when itreaches a proper position Within the heating chamber to close the doorsand automatically open the doors after the carrier has remained in theheating chamber a predetermined length of time, and means actuated bythe carrier for automatically timing the action of the press thereon.

9. An apparatus of the character described, including a heatingchamber,` a press, a track extending through the heating chamber andpress, a carrier movable upon the track and adapted to receive the stockto be treated, means for moving the carrier along the track andautomatically stopping it at proper points Within the heating chamberand press, doors for the heating chamber, means actuated by the carrierWhen it reaches a proper position Within the heating chamber for closingthe doors, time controlled means for automatically opening the doors atthe expiration of a predetermined length of time, a temperaturecontrolling device operatively connected to the timing device to startthe operation of the latter when a predetermined temperature has beenreached in the heating chamber, and means for controlling the action ofthe press on the carrier.

l0. An apparatus of the character described, including a press, a trackextending through the heating chamber and press, a carrier movable uponthe track and adapted toV receive the stoclr to be treated,automatically controlled means for retaining the carrier in the heatingchamber a definite predetermined length of time, means actuated by thecarrier for starting the press in operation when the carrier is inproper position Within the press, and time controlled means forautomatically stopping the operation 01"' the press at the expiration ofa predetermined length of time.

11. An apparatus of the character described, including a heatingchamber, a press, a track extending through the heating chamber andpress, a carrier movable upon the track and adapted to receive the stockto be treated, doors for the heating chamber, means for automaticallyclosing the doors when the carrier reaches a proper position within theheating chamber. means for automatically opening the doors after thecarrier has remained in the heating chamber a predetermined length oftime at a definite predetermined pressure, and

eans actuated by the opening of the doors for moving the carrier out ofthe heating chamber and into the` press.

12. An apparatus of the character described, including a heatingchamber, a press, a track extending through the heating chamber andpress, a carrier movable upon the track and adapted to receive the stockto be treated, doors for the heating chamber, automatically controlledmeans for opening the doors after the carrier has remained in theheating chamber a predetermined length of time under a predeterminedtemperature, and means actuated by the opening of the doors for movingthe carrier out of the heating chamber into the press.

BRADFORD DARRACH, JR.

Witnesses:

WVM. P. HAMMOND, P. F. SONNEK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

